“About 3.7% of new tuberculosis (TB) patients and 20% of patients who have had prior treatment for TB have a drug resistant strain of tuberculosis. This is a worrying problem since the struggle against TB is already underfunded and because it takes vastly more resources to fight drug resistant tuberculosis. Additionally, treatment for drug resistant tuberculosis can take years and cause severe side effects like permanent hearing loss.

Initial steps for combatting these strains of tuberculosis will take the form of ensuring proper use of antibiotics and improving the conditions of places where TB is often spread such as prisons. Past that point, there is a need for better diagnostic and surveillance information.”